The start of winter quarter are the UCSD Women’s Ultimate favorite time of the year… why? Because it's the start of ultimate frisbee’s college series!! After weeks of practice, both returning and rookie Psychos finally got to showcase their skills in the first official tournament of the season: Santa Barbara Invite. During pre-season, the returners were greeted with the smiling and eager to learn rookies who in turn, showed they had what it takes to be on the UCSD Women’s Ultimate team too, this past weekend in Santa Barbara. Returners got to see the rookies put what they practiced into action, and the rookies got their first real taste of ultimate frisbee.
The weekend started bright and early for the UCSD Psychos with the first game starting at 8am, Saturday morning versus University of Wisconsin, Bella Donnas. Psychos were unphased by first game jitters and came out strong, taking the lead early. Bella Donnas also quickly found their groove to tie the game but the Psychos answered, taking back the lead again. Soon after, psychos were fired up and pulled ahead, making the final score 13-8, the first win of many this past weekend for the UCSD Psychos.
Psychos replenished with snacks and rehydrated, laughed, danced, and got ready for the second game versus the University of Victoria, UVixens. With momentum from winning the previous game, the Psychos started the game on fire, pulling ahead with a 6-0 run, and a score of 7-1 at half. The second half was no different. UCSD Psychos scored again and again and again, making it look easy, ended with a win, 13-4. The third and last game against University of California, Berkeley, ended much like the previous two with another win for the Psychos, 13-3.
The women of UCSD Psychos were on a high from Day 1 of SBI, but Day 2, was where it really counted, and the Psychos did not disappoint. Facing #2 team in the nation, Stanford University, Psychos were anxious but ready for another chance to compete against the team that knocked them out in the semis last year. Although Stanford Superfly put up a good fight at the beginning, they quickly ran out of steam allowing UCSD to pull ahead and get the win, 13-4, sending them back to the semis to have another chance at the finals of SBI.
Game 2 of Day 2 against University of Washington, Element, was a tougher competition than it had been all weekend but that still didn’t scare the women of the UCSD women’s ultimate team. Aggressive Offensive line and unbreakable defensive line, psychos were unstoppable, beating Washington Element, 13-7.
The final game of SBI for the UCSD Psychos, was none other than the host themselves, UCSB Burning Skirts. Both Skirts and Psychos came out aggressive on the field and high energy on the sidelines. Run through D’s, layout D’s, skying the other opponent, turnovers, and goals came from both sides but it was UCSD who ultimately came out with the win, at 13-8, making the UCSD Psychos Santa Barbara Invite 2019 Champions, first time in UCSD Women’s Ultimate history.
Special shoutout to rookie Marissa “Dodek” Hing for showing up and showing out. Her lightning fast legs and quick retention of the game got the Psychos many D’s and scores this weekend. Additionally, the dynamic duo, Madison “Dash” Tenney and Rebeca “Fasa” Ellis, also had a spectacular weekend, helping out the psychos in the handler space. Their command on the field made the psycho defensive line flow smoothly and capitalize into many psycho goals.
-Zoe "Calypso" Lee